Three from Grundy County arrested by TBI on charges of forging will

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Arkansas-Memphis Live Blog
photo James E. Campbell II
photo Labreeska Meeks
photo Kelly Foutch

Three Grundy County people were arrested by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on grand jury indictments Wednesday on charges related to a forged last will and testament.

James E. Campbell II, 47, of Tracy City, Kelly Foutch, 46, of Monteagle, and Labreeska Meeks, 34, of Gruetli-Laager, all were taken into custody by TBI agents and local authorities, according to a news release from the state agency.

Campbell was indicted on one count of forgery, one count of passing a forged instrument and criminal conspiracy to commit theft in excess of $250,000.

The TBI and the Tracy City Police Department arrested Campbell at a residence in Tracy City on Wednesday.

Foutch was indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy to commit theft in excess of $250,000, TBI officials said.

Records show Foutch unsuccessfully ran for Grundy County Mayor in 2010 and for County Commission vacancies in 2011.

The Grundy County Sheriff's Office also charged Foutch with resisting arrest "after resisting deputies while being taken into custody today at the courthouse," the release states.

Meeks was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit theft in excess of $250,000, according to the TBI.

In January, 12th Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor's office requested TBI to investigate allegations that the last will and testament of James E. Campbell, Sr. that was filed with the Grundy County Clerk and Master's office in August of 2012 was forged by James E. Campbell, Jr. in March of 2012, authorities said.

The late James E. Campbell Sr.'s "significant other" contested the will was not signed by him, but was signed by his son James E. Campbell, Jr. The investigation revealed that two other individuals, Meeks and Foutch, were witnesses to the will signing in March 2012, TBI officials state.